REVOLUTIONARY WAR BURIAL SITE ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
Submitted by Sally Valone of Historic Langhorne Association
Published in the Langhorne Ledger

Had it not been for what an eleven year old girl named Jane, daughter of Joseph Richardson had witnessed, the discovery of the burial site may never have been made. In 1776 Jane witnessed the coming of Washington’s troops and burial of the solders to this unmarked location from her bedroom window. She described her experience vividly years later and they were subsequently written in the Journal of Joshua Richardson II in 1869. From the window of her house, she watched a sled standing outside the Hicks house, just across the street. Coffins were being drawn down to this burial site. Individual solders were placed in shallow mass graves, 3 or 4 soldiers per grave. This continued until May 15, 1777 when the troops departed.

In 1776, several months after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, General Washington’s army of 2000 men had suffered terrible loss. General Washington realized the strategic importance of the river and necessity of preventing a crossing. Locating two ferries across from Trenton, NJ – Coryell’s at New Hope and McConkey’s in Taylorsville, his officers were ordered to collect all boats from above and below that point and swiftly set up quarters on the Pennsylvania shore. Meager supplies were placed in Newtown, a safe distance from the front line.

Dr. William Shippen, Sr., Surgeon General was ordered to set up a hospital for the sick knowing that the dwindling forces suffered from starvation and disease in this harsh, cold December. Shippen located such a place in Four Lanes End, a thriving village of trades and craftsman. Washington’s plan was to surprise and capture the enemy forces in Trenton, Bordentown and Princeton. Silently groundwork continued in the storm of snow and sleet, across the “running ice” in the river during the afternoon and evening of Christmas Day, 1776.

Washington’s soldiers occupied four building after the famous Crossing here in Langhorne. The Middletown Monthly Meeting and School and the Isaac Hicks House and Tannery. Approximately 166 soldiers from the First Battle of Trenton (December 25, 1776), second Battle of Trenton (January 2, 1777), and Battle of Princeton (January 3, 1777) were buried here, most of whom died of disease and starvation rather than wounds.

Only local custom kept the legend of the Revolutionary War Burial Site which was written in this unpublished Journal over the years. When owners of the property applied for subdivision of this tract a request was made to verify the information in both the Journal and Letter indicating the burial of Revolutionary War Soldiers. The diary of Joshua Richardson states that 160 soldiers were buried in the corner lot opposite where Mercy Stackhouse now lives, in the south part of the village which is now the corner of Bellevue and Flowers Ave. When they got 3 or 4 coffins they would go to the lot and dig a grave, throw a little dirt over them and leave. In the spring dogs would scratch the dirt off the coffins and then the neighbors would haul more dirt to cover them.

The Borough’s Planning Commission and Borough Council hired Dr. R. Michael Steward, of Temple University’s Department of Anthropology to chase down the documentary evidence, but he stated that it is very rare that such tales can be documented. The crew returned many times over a period of weeks and were beginning to think it was just another town story. About to give up, they tried one more time near some shrubs and found the first evidence about a foot below the surface, a series of 18th century hand-wrought rose-head nails were found, all pointing in the same direction – evenly spaced and outline a coffin. Several bone fragments and teeth were found. They estimated there were about 30 to 50 more graves.

Establishment for stewardship by Langhorne Borough began when Woods Services, Inc. dedicated this parcel to Langhorne to be preserved forever. The site occupies an area 65’ x 100’ . The site is encircled by a period farmers’ fence, flagpole, memorial bench purchased by Four Lanes End Garden Club and a granite monument noting a brief history. A Pennsylvania State Marker stands at the entrance. It has been placed in public hands for future generations to visit, learn and honor.